calcium

noun

cal·​ci·​um ˈkal-sē-əm How to pronounce calcium (audio)
often attributive
: a metallic chemical element of the alkaline-earth group that occurs naturally only in combination and is essential to cellular functions in all known organisms see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of calcium in a Sentence

Her doctor said she should eat more foods that are high in calcium, such as milk and cheese.
Recent Examples on the Web Iron and calcium compete for absorption, which is why most quality multivitamins will have one but not both. Sarah Anzlovar, Ms, Verywell Health, 23 Apr. 2024 Fortified soy milk contains similar amounts of calcium and vitamin D as cow's milk and therefore counts toward your daily dairy intake, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024 Kefir is also an excellent source of potassium, calcium and vitamins D, A, and B12. Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2024 This protein powder contains 20 grams of protein per serving and a small amount of calcium, another important nutrient during pregnancy. Alexandra Paetow Ms Rdn, Parents, 15 Apr. 2024 Now watch how to remove unwanted calcium build-up on your hair. Sophia Panych, Allure, 2 Apr. 2024 Adults need about 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium per day.2 Read on to learn what non-dairy foods are high in calcium. Christine Mattheis, Health, 30 Mar. 2024 Minerals like calcium are like bricks that lay down the foundation of that building. David Oliver, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024 This is largely due to the mineral composition of spring water, which contains varying amounts of sulfur, manganese, magnesium, zinc, selenium, strontium, silica, and calcium bicarbonate. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'calcium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin calc-, calx lime

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of calcium was in 1808

Dictionary Entries Near calcium

Cite this Entry

“Calcium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calcium. Accessed 2 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

calcium

noun
cal·​ci·​um ˈkal-sē-əm How to pronounce calcium (audio)
: a silver-white soft metallic element that is found only in combination with other elements (as in limestone) and is one of the necessary elements making up the bodies of most plants and animals see element
Etymology

derived from Latin calc-, calx "lime" — related to calculate, chalk

Medical Definition

calcium

noun
cal·​ci·​um ˈkal-sē-əm How to pronounce calcium (audio)
often attributive
: a silver-white bivalent metallic element that is an alkaline earth metal, occurs only in combination, and is an essential constituent of most plants and animals
symbol Ca
see Chemical Elements Table

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